In a bid to promote entrepreneurship among women, the first-ever women’s edition start-up weekend began in Thimphu yesterday. Eighteen women from diverse backgrounds are taking part in the event.
The 54-hour program will see the women pitch business ideas, work in teams and present their models tomorrow.
It is also a platform for networking and building connections.
Organizers say it is a first step to empowering women. They say there are a lot of capable women but self-doubt holds them back.
“Women are really shy to come up in the front and talk. This platform is solely for women so that they can come forward and take the risk and not feel shy,” Deepika said.
“Women are smart and intelligent. They have a lot of potential but are skeptical and doubt themselves. So, this is a good platform for them to explore,” she added.
They also do not have financial independence.
“We talk a lot about women empowerment. But what we also know is if the women do not have financial independence, they cannot be empowered,” Deepika said.
A study by the National Statistics Bureau (NSB) earlier this year found poor access to finance to be one of the biggest challenges facing the women entrepreneurs in the country.
The start-up event is expected to equip them with essential business skills and connections to enable them to forge ahead in the world of entrepreneurship.
